b. January 21, 1799, in Bernardston, Massachusetts; d. November 21, 1870, in Springfield, Illinois. On November 21, 1821, Wright arrived in Springfield, Illinois, where he taught school until 1822. In 1823, he purchased land from Levi Ellis. Wright claimed to have built the first frame house in what is now the city of Springfield. On June 15, 1831, he married Jane Gardner. Wright spent three or four years in the lead-mining region of Illinois and Wisconsin, and laid out the town of Mineral Point, Wisconsin. He was one of the earliest teachers in Sangamon County, Illinois, and taught for many years. For ten years he filled the office of school commissioner of Sangamon County. During that time, a large amount of money, derived from the sale of government land for school purposes, passed through his hands. He was one of the earliest abolitionists in the county. In 1850, Wright was a land agent in Sangamon County. In 1860, he was retired with real estate worth $60,000 and personal property worth $6,000. Wright was a pallbearer at Lincoln's funeral.